Ohio lawmakers approve redistricting reform proposal for voters

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Ohio lawmakers approved redistricting reform on Tuesday aimed at curbing gerrymandering by changing how electoral district boundaries are drawn to ensure they do not favor one political party over another.

The measure will be sent to voters in May.

Ohio House Speaker Pro Tempore Kirk Schuring said in a statement that the measure would create a fair and competitive system.

At least four states including Ohio, Michigan, Missouri and South Dakota are expected to put redistricting initiatives on ballots this year to curtail partisan gerrymandering, the manipulation of the composition of legislative districts to amplify the voting power of one party at the expense of another.

-snip-

#POLITICS FEBRUARY 6, 2018 / 7:13 PM / UPDATED 15 MINUTES AGO
Chris Kenning
3 MIN READ


Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ohio-redistricting/ohio-lawmakers-approve-redistricting-reform-proposal-for-voters-idUSKBN1FR00N

[bearsfootball516]

1. Why does this even need to be voted on?

[Eugene]

2. It amends the state constitution to create a new redistricting body among other things.

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2018/02/ohio_senate_passes_bipartisan.html

[aeromanKC]

3. South Dakota?

Um, they have 1 Congressional District. Damn, the minority party must really suck if they get out gerrymandered there!!

[rpannier]

5. It's for state level redistricting as well

The state senate and state house

[Laurian]

4. This is a good thing, right? I'm baffled because I believe Ohio in under

Republican control. I'm surprised that a Republican legislature would do what seems to be fair. I grew up in Ohio, so try to stay up with what's going on there.

[not fooled]

6. Maybe they think they have a death grip on it now

with voter purging.

Or they want to stem the tide of outrage before it overwhelms them and kicks their sorry asses to the curb.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. Good news. Let there be a wave of permanent independent redistricting commissions or similar. . . nt

[NBachers]

8. The independent redistricting commission boundaries are sure working out well in California!